Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009Kicks Off with Open Air Demo

The OR Summer Market trade event will continue at the Salt Palace Convention Center through July 24, 2009

Nielsen Business Media Press Release

FlashlightNews.org - 7/23/2009

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Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Ca. and SALT LAKE CITY, Ut. - The indoor portion of the outdoor recreation industry's week long trade show, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (OR), began today in Salt Lake City after yesterday's hands-on product testing experience at the Open Air Demo (OAD) at Pineview Reservoir near Ogden, Utah. The OR Summer Market trade event will continue at the Salt Palace Convention Center through July 24, 2009.

OAD provided attending retailers the opportunity to preview and test the latest in outdoor recreation gear from more than 55 manufacturers and brands.

"I test boats here that I wouldn't get a chance to test at a regional show," said Chuck Walker, president of Waynesborro, Virginia's Rockfish Gap Outfitters. "Also, if I have an idea about how to improve a boat or a feature to add to a product, I don't have to have my ideas passed onto a product developer. I can talk directly to the manufacturer, face-to-face, here at the show and they can tell me right then if my idea is feasible or not."

OAD attendees participated in events such as the Climbing Clinics at crags along the Ogden River, Wasatch Whitewater Chute-Out for advanced boaters, Whitewater Experience for novice boaters, the SkirtChaser Trail Run, Magellan GPS Treasure Hunt and a memorial paddle out for outdoor adventurer and retail buyer, Andy Knapp.

Besides retailer focused events, OAD exhibitors find that the face-to-face interaction with retailers provides invaluable product feedback and helps with the buying cycle during the indoor portion of the show.

"Holding OAD before the indoor portion of the show is perfect," said Duke Brouwer, events and promotions manager for Santa Cruz, California-based Surtech. "In the months leading up to the show we gather lots of dealer product feedback and incorporate their ideas into the products we show here. It feels good to hear them say, 'Wow, you listened,' and that helps set the tone for doing business at the rest of the show at the Convention Center."

The enthusiasm from OAD fed the Summer Market's busy and vibrant opening day, with more than 8,400 pre-registered outdoor retailers representing nearly 2,300 stores attending to learn about new product offerings from the more than 900 exhibitors.

The "Tribal Gathering" happening at 2009 Summer Market organizes many of these exhibitors into segment-specific areas on the show floor such as the Source and Design Center, Endurance Sports Zone and Paddlers Zone to promote solidarity and facilitate networking.

To support new exhibitors, OR has dedicated an entire ballroom at the Summer Market for their use. More than 100 new exhibitors will be in this central location showcasing their brands and products. To learn about the new exhibitors at OR Summer Market, go to the New Exhibitor page on OutdoorRetailer.com.

In addition, show attendees and exhibitors will be able to see up-and-coming design students compete to conceive, construct and present an outdoor garment prototype in 48 hours in the third installment of Project OR. While a panel of expert industry judges selects the winning design, attendees and exhibiters get to join in by casting their vote for the People's Choice Award. Project OR will unfold in the Source and Design Center, Meeting Room 155 (1st level, adjacent to Hall 1), and videotaped episode will be available to view on the Project OR Web site.

For more information about Outdoor Retailer, a list of Summer Market events and to view exhibitors' press kits, please visit OutdoorRetailer.com.

About Outdoor Retailer

Outdoor Retailer (OR), produced by Nielsen Business Media of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., is a full service trade show company that creates, markets and produces high-quality expos and educational conferences. OR is the leading outdoor industry business-to-business event management company, bringing together manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of outdoor recreation. Now celebrating more than 25 years of successful events, Outdoor Retailer (outdoorretailer.com) gathers approximately 40,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for its Winter and Summer Market shows.

The next opportunity to preview the future of the outdoor industry will start at the Back Country Base Camp at the Snowbasin Ski Resort January 20, 2010 followed by the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, January 21-24, 2009 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.